In a sudden turn of events, some prominent leaders in the Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP) declared void the recent reconstitution of the party’s central committee by Acting National President Badri Prasad Mandal and withdrew the party’s support to the government.

The leaders who claimed to have majority in the party’s 31-member central committee dictated deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal to step down within three days. The leaders claim to have the support of nineteen members in the central committee.

Speaking at a programme organised by the Reporters’ Club Tuesday, party leader Rajendra Mahato said that majority of the members had rendered invalid the recent reconstitution of the central committee by Mandal and had given continuity to the old central committee.

Mandal during the first reconstitution of the party’s central committee dropped the name of general secretary Hridayesh Tripathi from the committee. He again recently called Tripathi back to the party.

Mandal while reconstituting the party for the second time ousted general secretary Rajendra Mahato and inducted five new members into the party. The group of dissidents in the deputy Prime Minister’s party include Rajendra Mahato, Hridayesh Tripathi, Bharat Kumar Bimal and Laxman Lal Karna.